Let’s play jacks!
How to Play Jacks: Clear, Step-by-Step Rules & Fun Variations
What You Need
A set of jacks and a ball
A smooth, flat surface for playing
Objective
Be the first to progress from “onesies” to “tensies” by successfully picking up the required number of jacks in each round.
Setting Up
Scatter the Jacks: Toss your jacks onto the playing surface in front of you. Aim for a balanced spread—not too spread out and not too clustered.
Basic Gameplay
Throw the Ball: Begin by tossing the ball into the air.
Pick Up a Jack: While the ball is in the air, quickly pick up one jack.
Catch the Ball: Allow the ball to bounce once, then catch it.
Repeat: Continue picking up the jacks one at a time until you’ve collected them all.
Increase the Count: Once you’ve completed the “onesies” round, gather the jacks, throw the ball again, and pick up two jacks at a time (twosies). For “threesies,” pick up three jacks at a time (if there’s an extra jack, pick it up separately). Continue increasing the count until you reach “tensies.”
Turn Rules
Your turn continues until you:
Miss the ball,
Fail to pick up the required number of jacks,
Move a jack unintentionally, or
Drop a jack that you’ve picked up.
When any of these occur, your turn ends and the next player takes over.
Handling Touching Jacks ("Kissies")
If two or more jacks touch after you throw them, you can either:
Leave them as they are, or
Carefully tap them to spread them out.
Deciding Who Goes First
To determine the starting player:
Toss the jacks into the air.
Catch as many as you can using both hands (palms down, thumbs together).
The player who catches the most jacks starts the game.
Game Variations
For extra challenge or variety, try these versions:
Black Widow: Complete rounds from onesies to tensies without a single miss. If you miss, start over at onesies.
No Bouncies: Play through the rounds without letting the ball bounce before you pick up the jacks.
Double Bouncies: Allow the ball to bounce twice before picking up the jacks.
Cherries in a Basket: Cup one hand like a basket. Throw the ball with your other hand and use the cupped hand to collect the jacks from onesies to tensies.
Pigs in a Pen: Slightly cup your hand on the ground to form a “pen.” After throwing the ball, slide the jacks into your pen for each round.
Over the Fence: Place your hand flat on the ground to create an imaginary fence. Place the jacks on the opposite side of the “fence” for each round.
Around the World: After tossing the ball, trace a circle in the air before it bounces. Complete rounds from one to ten.
Left-Handed: Switch your dominant hand when throwing the ball for a new challenge.
Enjoy the game with these clear and direct guidelines. Have fun mastering each round as you progress from onesies to tensies!